Bitly vs y.hn: Which URL Shortener Should You Use?

Bitly has long been the default choice for URL shortening, but newer alternatives like y.hn are challenging the status quo. In this detailed comparison, we'll examine how these two URL shorteners stack up across every important category.

The Basics

Bitly was founded in 2008 and has become synonymous with link shortening. It's used by millions of businesses worldwide and offers enterprise-grade features.

y.hn is a modern URL shortener built for the current web. Its 4-character domain means every link is incredibly short — just 7-10 characters total compared to Bitly's 14+.

Link Length Comparison

This is where y.hn shines brightest:

• y.hn link: y.hn/abc (10 characters)
• Bitly link: bit.ly/3xK9mPq (19 characters)

That's nearly half the length. In a tweet, character count matters. In a text message, brevity is key. On a printed flyer, shorter URLs are easier to type.

Pricing Comparison

Bitly Pricing (2026)

• Free: 10 links/month, basic analytics
• Core: $35/month — 100 links, better analytics
• Growth: $100/month — 500 links, campaign management
• Premium: $250/month — unlimited links, enterprise features

y.hn Pricing (2026)

• Free: 50 links/month, basic stats
• Pro: $4.99/month — unlimited links, custom slugs, full analytics, QR codes, bio page
• Business: $19.99/month — team access, custom domains, webhooks, priority support

The price difference is staggering. y.hn's Business plan costs less than Bitly's cheapest paid plan.

Features Comparison

Analytics

Both platforms offer click analytics, but with different depth:

Bitly provides:

• Click counts
• Geographic data
• Referrer sources
• Device types
• Time-based charts

y.hn provides:

• Click counts
• Geographic data (country, city)
• Device and browser breakdown
• Referrer sources
• Real-time 30-day charts
• Pie charts for device distribution

Both are comparable for most users' needs.

QR Codes

Bitly charges for QR code generation (starting at the Growth plan). y.hn includes QR codes for all users, with branded codes available on Pro plans.

Bio Pages

y.hn offers a unique bio page feature (y.hn/@username) — similar to Linktree but built right into the URL shortener. Bitly doesn't offer this feature.

Custom Slugs

Both platforms support custom slugs on paid plans. y.hn's advantage is that even custom slugs are shorter due to the domain length.

API Access

Both offer API access:

• Bitly: Available on paid plans, well-documented
• y.hn: Available on Pro ($4.99/mo) with 1,000 requests/month, unlimited on Business

Team Features

• Bitly: Team features on Growth ($100/mo) and above
• y.hn: Team features on Business ($19.99/mo) with 5 members

Migration from Bitly

Switching from Bitly to y.hn is straightforward:

1. Export your Bitly links

2. Use y.hn's API to create new short links for your URLs

3. Keep your Bitly links active (they'll continue working)

4. Start using y.hn for all new links

Note: You can't transfer the actual Bitly short URLs since those are on Bitly's domain. But all new links will benefit from y.hn's shorter format.

Who Should Use Bitly?

Bitly still makes sense if:

• You're an enterprise with existing Bitly integrations
• You need specific third-party integrations Bitly offers
• Your organization has already standardized on Bitly
• You need SSO/SAML authentication (enterprise plan)

Who Should Use y.hn?

y.hn is the better choice if:

• You want the shortest possible URLs
• You're budget-conscious (90% cheaper than Bitly)
• You need a bio page / link-in-bio solution
• You're a developer who wants affordable API access
• You're a creator, marketer, or small business
• You value a clean, modern interface

The Verdict

For the vast majority of users, y.hn is the better choice in 2026. It offers shorter links, a more generous free tier, dramatically lower pricing, and modern features like bio pages. Bitly's main advantage is its legacy integrations and enterprise features that most users don't need.

FAQ

Q: Is y.hn reliable enough for business use?

A: Yes. y.hn is built on modern cloud infrastructure with 99.9% uptime SLA on business plans.

Q: Can I use both Bitly and y.hn?

A: Absolutely. Many users keep their existing Bitly links while using y.hn for new ones.

Q: Will Bitly links stop working if I switch?

A: No. Your existing Bitly links will continue to work indefinitely.

Q: Does y.hn support custom domains like Bitly?

A: Yes, custom domains are available on the Business plan ($19.99/mo).

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Ready to make the switch? Start with y.hn free — no credit card required.